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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Finding Your Truth & The Authentic Life

Finding your truth and living an authentic life. It sounds hard, just by the sound of it. It sounds like alot of soul searching and then rigid rules by which to live your life, almost. But the only truly hard part of this is the first step, and it is also the scariest part. And it doesn't have to be about rigid rules or absolute truths, either.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.~~Buddha

That being said, there are a number of definitions for Truth. Lets look at them.

The quality or being true; as: -- (a) Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been; or shall be.

Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, object of imitation, or the like.

Fidelity; constancy; steadfastness; faithfulness.

The practice of speaking what is true; freedom from falsehood; veracity.

That which is true or certain concerning any matter or subject, or generally on all subjects; real state of things; fact; verity; reality.

A true thing; a verified fact; a true statement or proposition; an established principle, fixed law, or the like; as, the great truths of morals.

Now, there is a difference between that which is deemed an absolute truth, such as murder is wrong, and finding your own truth. This is because when one seeks their own truth, they seek their own path. And to pave the road of this path, one must find their own metaphors and meaning in life, which are those things which hold great meaning to them and give them strength.

There are no whole truths: all truths are half-truths. It is trying to treat them as whole truths that plays the devil.~~Alfred North Whitehead

For one person this may be deity, by whatever name the person chooses to apply to it. For another, it might be the more universal appeal of an idea like a higher power. And still yet, for others, it could be any of a number of other things, like placing faith in themselves and their capabilities.

Saying this does not take away from the value it holds for the person in question. It only says that there are as many truths/paths as there are people. And no one way holds the absolute truth, no matter what it promises. Each offers a unique perspective worthy of acknowledgment and study, even if it is not your own.

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.~~Harvey Fierstein

Finding your truth means defining yourself: who you are, what are your goals and dreams, what are you willing to do to realize those dreams, what are your limits. It forces you to ask yourself what is important to you in your life and what exists in your life that you have no need or care for. This includes relationships, jobs, hobbies, activism, religions, political affiliations, and anything else we place a value on, whether monetary or otherwise.

Once it forces you to face these things, without looking at them through the tinted glass of other people's perceptions, it also asks you to choose what really matters to you so that you can begin to focus on those things. This is your truth and this is living an authentic life.

It doesn't have to be what a religion tells you your life has to be. It doesn't have to be set by the ideal of some else's life. It only ever has to be true to you and what you believe.

Are you a moral person, by nature, in your life? Then be moral. Are you a religious person in your life? Then be religious. And live by the ideal set for you, if that is what you choose to do. The important thing is that you choose it, and not allow it to be chosen for you.

So find your truth and live an authentic life. It's easier than it sounds. It's simply the first step, the idea of facing yourself and the possibilities of change, which cause one to push away from it.

The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.~~Morihei Ueshiba Quote from The Art of Peace

In the idea of helping you find your truth, I will offer you some tips on self discovery which can be found here: Self Discovery: How To Find Yourself. It is well worth the time of reading it.

As well, I'd like to offer a few helpful tidbits to remember, when you begin this process, which were found here: Find Your Truth

Every decision, large or small, brings consequences.

Work to become more mindful in your choices, no matter how insignificant the choice may be.

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Welcome to Empathic Perspectives, where the Empathic Mind is seen through all sorts of perspectives. Take a look around, and if you have any questions or comments, we will try to answer them as best we can.

Please note that everything written on this blog is written by caring people who are here to help and to teach. None of the material here, though, should be used to replace medical and/or psychiatric help, where it is needed. If you are in need, please contact a professional immediately. And remember, you are never alone, even when it seems that way.

NamasteMisu

P.S. In the past, people have asked me why I don't turn Empathic Perspectives into a book, even suggesting that they would definitely buy a copy. But the main point of this site and all of this writing is to offer free information and resources for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People. For that reason, a blog format is the most conducive toward that end.